Work on wastewater plant in Empire continues, some roads closed through Feb. 21

COOS BAY, Ore. -- Work is moving ahead on a new wastewater treatment plant in Empire.

The project is affecting roads in the area because of safety concerns.

Public access to Fulton Avenue west of S. Empire Boulevard will be closed for a week.

The City of Coos Bay is installing a new sewer outfall pipe from the new treatment plant.

The road will remain closed until February 21.

The new plant will have greater capacity and use new wastewater technology.

"It has a capacity of 8.4 million gallons a day and the old one is only, I think, 3.3,” said engineering project manager Jan Kerbo, “and the new technology is sequencing batch reactor - the flow comes in there and all of the processes happen in that one basin, which is more efficient."